The East-West Center has announced the 2025 Changing Faces Women’s Leadership Seminar, which will focus on innovation and entrepreneurship's role in economic growth, job creation, and community strengthening. The seminar is a 12-day program featuring professional training, dialogue, and travel. Participants will engage in workshops on leadership and entrepreneurship and will gain insights through field visits and meetings with experts, practitioners, business owners, and policymakers in Hawaiʻi.
Participants will be paired with local women leaders through a Host Mentor Program. They will also mentor high school students as part of a Next Generation Service Project. Additionally, the seminar includes training sessions to help participants develop an Action Plan for their business or community improvement.
The seminar is open to women business owners and social entrepreneurs who have shown leadership skills within their communities. Eligible applicants include innovative entrepreneurs, business managers, government officials, industry policymakers, and civil society leaders with at least seven years of work experience. Applicants from various countries including the United States are encouraged to apply. English proficiency is required for participation.
Funding for the seminar comes from the East-West Center, the Fish Family Foundation, among others. Scholarships covering up to USD $3,500 per participant are available for five to seven women from the United States and Asia Pacific region. Participants must cover their airfare to Honolulu along with visa expenses, health insurance, and baggage fees.
Applications are due by Tuesday, February 11, 2025. More information can be found on the East-West Center website or by emailing changingfaces@eastwestcenter.org.